MILLIONS of trade union members could be offered a chance to join the Conservative party for free in an audacious grab of traditional Labour territory.

Robert Halfon welcomed David Cameron's 'concentration of political firepower' on Len McCluskey

Tory chairman Grant Shapps is considering proposals drawn up by campaigning backbench MP Robert Halfon to help promote the Tories as the “true workers’ party”. It comes ahead of the launch of a new Tory campaign group tomorrow designed to broaden the party’s appeal to all sections of society.

It wants the Conservatives to campaign for hard-working low and middle income ­workers, particularly in northern towns and cities, by championing improved wages and cutting the cost of living.

Among the targets is the traditional Labour turf of trade union members. It is estimated that up to a third of Britain’s six million trade union members voted Conservative at the last election.

Of the 58 unions that make up the Trades Union Congress only 15 are affiliated to the Labour party. The political scandal surrounding Unite’s attempts to rig a Labour candidate selection in Falkirk last week forced Ed ­Miliband to announce a review of his party’s relationship with its paymasters.

The political levy will remain but individual members of affiliated unions may not in the future be automatically charged the cost of Labour membership.

Mr Halfon said this was the ideal time to remind union members of the Tories’ historic links with unions. While the Labour Party sprang from the fledgling trade union movement, Mr Halfon said it was left to a Conservative prime minister, the Early of Derby, to legalise unions. Margaret Thatcher’s first political role was as an officer in the Conservative Trade Unionists.

We need to show union members that we share similar values and that we appreciate them

MP Robert Halfon

“We need to show union members that we share similar values and that we appreciate them,” he said. “We should not let trade unions be hijacked by Labour when millions of their members are Conservative voters. By giving them free membership it shows we are the true workers’ party.”

Mr Halfon, MP for Harlow, welcomed the Prime Minister’s concentration of political firepower on militant Unite boss Len McCluskey, who he said did not represent the views of the vast majority of moderate members. A Populus poll in 2009 found that a third of Unite’s 1.5 million members intended to vote Conservative in 2010 despite their union’s affiliation.

David Skelton, former deputy director of Mr Cameron’s favourite think tank the Policy Exchange, will launch the new group.